§694. Surcharge assessment; collection

            A. A surcharge shall be imposed and levied at the rate of fifteen dollars on truck registrations issued pursuant to R.S. 47:511 and on all Class 1 and Class 2 registration fees for trucks and trailers in excess of 23,999 pounds, pursuant to R.S. 47:462(B)(3)(a), and shall be paid in addition to and simultaneous with any annual registration or license tax, as provided in R.S. 462(B)(3)(a) and 511.

            B. The surcharge shall be collected by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, at the issuance of any annual registration or license tax.

            C. There is hereby created a statutorily dedicated fund account within the state treasury known as the "Trucking Research and Education Council Fund Account" which shall consist of those revenues derived from the surcharge collected pursuant to this Section. Monies in the fund account shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the general fund. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund account shall be credited to the fund account. Monies deposited into the fund account shall be categorized as fees and self-generated revenue for the sole purpose of reporting related to the executive budget, supporting documents, and general appropriation bills. Monies in the fund account shall be used as provided in Subsection D of this Section. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in this statutorily dedicated fund account at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the account.

            D. Subject to legislative appropriation, the gross amount collected shall be paid by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, to the council on a quarterly basis. The quarterly payments made to the council shall be made on or before the fifteenth day of the succeeding quarter and shall be accompanied by a complete audit of all funds collected.

            Acts 2019, No. 314, §1.